Category: Inspirations
Giving the Blog a Facelift…
We are working our way through the pages of our blog to update and expand our reach. When you start looking at the physical blog, you start thinking about your “why”, so I though I would share some of the “whys” with you. 1. We are bombarded with information through various formats that make their
May 2025 Reading List
I would highly recommend any of the 15 books that I read this month. Summer is here (or around the corner) and so the days of sitting on the front porch or in the backyard gazebo or by the pool have arrived. Expose yourself to different perspectives – either in fiction or non-fiction and you
Time for Change…and a Re-Boot…
I started this blog/website/podcast in September 2019 after my retirement. It started with a focus on women and I spent the first few episodes talking with a friend of mine – we covered women’s health, family, adult children, grief and loss, boundaries and books, and even more. I moved into a “solo” version for awhile
April 2025 Reading List
Non-FictionOpen When…..by Dr. Julie Smith This is a book with guidance for some of your tough days and times. Open When…it’s hard to be with yourself…it’s hard to be with other people…it’s hard to be with your feelings…you’re healing by the past…Listen to the positive voice within you when you need it the most. Eat
Mother’s Day
With Mother’s Day about two weeks away, I am busy making flower pots to celebrate the women in my life. I lost my mother 29 years ago on April 30th. I have always found Mother’s Day difficult since then. She passed away in a lot of discomfort and pain and she has never known my
Have you played Carrom?
This Easter, we got out our crokinole board for a few rounds. Zachary loves to play crokinole, so, he was introducing the game to his new partner, Angel. During the game, Angel told us about carrom – a game that she played as a child in India. We bought the game and tried it for
March 2025 Book List
W e are 25% through 2025 and I am 28% through my goal of 175 books. I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction. I believe in listening to and reading books. Reading makes a HUGE difference in my life. It brings me relaxation and perspective, it introduces me to ideas and history and it moves
Spring Is Here…Cycling Goals
Last week, the weather was SO warm that it inspired me to start setting some cycling goals for this week. I set a goal of 100 km between Sunday, March 23 and Saturday, March 29th. Then, our false spring ended. At this point, you have a decision to make, do you dress up and go
Winter, Winter, Winter…
We are saying good-bye to winter with a little trip to Collingwood to see some good friends and enjoy the VERY deep snow that has accumulated here this year. With a little hiking, some snowshoeing, a dip in the hot tub and some delicious food, we are enjoying our little winter get-away.
January 2025 Reading List
Here we go! February is here already and I have completed 17 books during the first month of 2025. Non-FictionThe Little Book of Mindfulness: 10 Minutes a Day to Less Stress, More Peace by Patrizia CollardThis is a quick reads that reminds you of the importance slowing down, calming your mind and lightening your spirit.
10 Things That Say I Love You
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. How can you celebrate love and friendship without “breaking the bank”? Valentine’s Day is about friendship and showing others that we care so, don’t miss this opportunity to spread some love and friendship. Making Valentine’s Day special can be very simple – spend some time thinking about the people
Do you need to fix your walk?
For those of us over 50, we need to remember that we are not helpless in the face of the changes that occur in our bodies as we age, and there are practical solutions available. There is SO much living ahead for us and we need to make sure that we can live happy, healthy
Do you RESET in January?
After all of the Christmas decorations are packed away, I always take a look around the house and do a “reset”. This week, I have purged clothing that I haven’t worn in at least 2 years, cleaned up the office and I have done a thorough vacuum/dust and floor washing throughout the whole house. It
The Final 21 Books of 2024
I made it – 175 books in 2024. I have set a new goal for 175 books in 2025. I left my goal the same because that seems to be my personal “zone”. I want my goal to be achievable – it is about 15 books a month. I like to delve into some thick
The Peace of Christmas Day
BREATHE, PRAY, SEEK WISE COUNSEL, BE FRIENDLY WITH YOURSELF…FEEL MORE PEACEFUL, PRESENT AND ALIVE. The garment of life, be it tattered and tornthe cloak of the soldier is withered and wornBut what child is this that was poverty-bornThe peace of Christmas Day The branch that bears the bright hollyThe dove that rests in yonder treeThe
Are you thinking about 2025?
There are many ways to prepare for the new year, including: For now, eat delicious food, have a glass of wine, taste some delicious baking, get together with friends and family, read a book, take a walk and be kind to yourself.
November 2024 Book List
This year is flying to an end…SO MUCH has been happening in the world. This quote by Adam Grant (one of my favourite authors) ” Disappointment comes from knowing things could be better. Gratitude flows from knowing things could be worse. We don’t control events, but we do choose our outlook. Where we focus shapes
Happy American Thanksgiving…
My dishcloths for this week are shaped like the American Flag. This weekend is the American Thanksgiving and then a dive into the Christmas Season. A new year is ahead, I feel that no matter what side of the aisle you sit, there is always some apprehension when change is on the horizon. I will
Re-Visiting the Past – A Visit to Gimli and Springstein and Winnipeg
How important is to understand our roots? It is important to understand your heritage and it will allow you to reconnect with your relatives. You will preserve your family’s unique stories and you might even understand your own medical history and it might improve your own well-being. Understanding your roots helps you develop your sense
Air Travel
We have flown several times – Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, Porter. I think all of us have seen, over the years, that the “old days” of air travel are over. We do not pay for “First or Business Class” and so, we have experienced “regular” airplane travel. I think the two main things that
Ishi by Akiko Yabuki
This year for my birthday, my very thoughtful husband found this book (through a colleague) and, he knows how I feel about connection and moving forward and doing my best to be the best version of myself (and help others do the same). This little picture book promotes every aspect of living your best life.
Beautiful November and Cycling
This November has been amazing for a great ride. Before the time change, you could slip a ride in during the late afternoon. So why do we still “fall back” every Autumn? Advocates in support of Daylight Saving Time suggest that in addition to reducing crime and automobile accidents, extended daylight hours also improve energy
October 2024 Reading List
I am down to my last 35 books this year to reach my goal of 175 books by December 31st. Why do I read so much? The main reason that I read so much is because I want to listen to different perspectives. Whether I am reading fiction or non-fiction, I am reading someone’s perspective
The Beauty of Autumn
We recently had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Prince Edward County at a beautiful place near Stirling, the community of Oak Lake. It was a 5 km cycle around the lake and we were able to canoe all the way around the lake. There was great hiking (and some bouldering for Sebastian and
Finding Joy in Each Moment
I have been doing a lot of reading about mindfulness lately. The idea is that we are “in the moment” with a clear and openhearted presence that reconnects us with life. We need to learn to “pause”, STOP and become fully present and physically still. Often the moment when we most need to pause is
The Barbequed Turkey
This year, we barbequed our Thanksgiving turkey. We were so grateful to be able to spend a couple of days as a family – riding bikes, going for a walk, talking, eating and just being together – the real meaning of Thanksgiving. This year, we roasted a 16 lb turkey. We heated the BBQ to
September Reading List 2024
October 1st has now come and gone. I read and listen to books every day. I love my opportunities to share reading and books with children – our days of reading on the porch or reading in the sun are slowly coming to an end. We will soon be curling up with a book by
What are you doing on the first day of Autumn?
This week has been a beautiful week – summer came to an end with soaring temperatures and lots of sunshine. Today was another beautiful day and we sat by the pool and read and swam and then took a beautiful bike ride along the canal. Autumn is VERY much in the air with its purples
September Cycling – Week 2
Tonight, we did an evening ride on the Hamilton Waterfront Trail with Sebastian. It is a beautiful ride and we finished off at Planted on Locke Street. Planted is gluten free and vegan and they have the best eggplant fish and chips – as well as some amazing donuts – crullers and cherry fritters. Our
Cycling Goals
How much do you move every day? As someone who is 60 years old, I think about the amount that I move a LOT. I am extremely fortunate to be able to move – cycle, swim, hike, lift weights, do Pilates and yoga, clean my house, garden, mow lawn and even a bit of indoor
Having Fun As a Family Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune…
Everyone is back to school, weeks are busy and when the weekend arrives, there is cleaning, laundry and groceries. A lot of kids are involved in activities as well – sometimes it leaves very little time for the simple things in life. Sometimes it is good to take a step back and try something new.
Thank you from TEAM VOTH and the GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE
Cancer is the biggest killer of kids in Canada, 27 children are diagnosed every week. This August, our family took part in the GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE. Kids should be living life, not fighting it. With the tremendous support we received from our community, we were able to raise $3035 and bike 807 km! We are
August Reading List 2024
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” – Jorge Luis Borges In addition to riding over 300 km for The Great Cycle Challenge this August, I read 16 books. I have 4 months to reach my goal of 175 books this year and 60 books left to read. It is NEVER
What is your passion?
This August, I am finishing over 300 km of cycling. A couple of years ago, we purchased new bikes from Downtown Bike Hounds in Hamilton, Ontario and it was life changing. Owning a great bike is essential to enjoying cycling. We also bought top of the line helmets and installed 2 water bottle holders on
Biking for A Cause – Great Cycle Challenge 2024
This will be my fourth summer involved with this cause. I think it is safe to say that we all have causes that are dear to our hearts. We all care about and support a variety of things. We give back. I started this cause after I retired from a 30+ year as a teacher.
Cheers to 30 Years…
August 12, 2024 marks 30 years of marriage for Charles and I. We are celebrating quietly. We are planning trips in the future and adventures to come, but for now, we are just enjoying a quiet summer of poolside relaxing, biking, golfing, sewing, reading, thinking and enjoying sitting in our gazebo. Over 30 years you
Shattering the Glass Ceiling
I am not usually political in my blogs. Politics and religion are very personal to me. I don’t want to debate them, I want to allow people to have their own space and thoughts. I love to talk about my beliefs and passions with other people and I love to hear about the beliefs and
TOP 11 AUTHORS FROM MY GOODREADS LIST…
I use Goodreads as an app to keep track of my reading. I took a look to see some of the authors from whom I have read multiple books. You will not be disappointed with any of these authors. Alan Bradley is a Canadian mystery writer known for his Flavia de Luce series, which began
July 2024 Reading List
I have hit 98 books this year and I am aiming for 175. This month, I read 17 books. I have been using the public library lately and finding some good reads there. The issue with libraries is that they don’t seem to manage to get the most up-to-date books and their “hold” process is
Please wear a helmet…
We bike almost every day. We bike mostly on pathways within the city, occasionally we will cross a road or spend a short amount of time on a road. We ALWAYS wear a helmet and always have a flashing light – especially on the back of our bikes. We are moving fairly quickly and when
The Great Cycle Challenge 2024 – Team Voth
This year, Sebastian and I are riding in The Great Cycle Challenge – riding for a cure for kid’s cancer. In this time of “scams”, this cause is affiliated with SICKKIDS in Toronto. Many children dealing with a diagnosis are treated at this world-class facility. Tonight, we did a practice ride – it was a
Fighting for your Health
In our house, we have always been concerned about eating right and getting enough exercise. We have recently started reading about our vagus nerve and being mindful of caring for our nervous system as well. I have had a couple of crazy health issues – including a mis-diagnosis of Chrone’s Disease. I wanted to write
The Beautiful Pond
When we golf at Fox Run, we are surrounded by beautiful ponds. It makes me think of teaching “pond life” when I was an elementary school teacher. The elementary school teacher is an “expert” in many subjects, including Science. I remember fondly taking students to Fireman’s Park in Niagara Falls and Chippawa Park in Welland,
June 2024 Reading List
Summer is here so, there is reading in the pool, reading on the porch, reading in the gazebo and listening while walking, biking, sewing and even while knitting or crocheting. I read SO many good books this month. I will continue to divide them between fiction and non-fiction and hope that I inspire you to
How does your garden grow?
Today, as I was sitting in the backyard, I was so surprised to see that my tomato plants are covered with blossoms and even small tomatoes. We have cucumelons and regular cucumbers and cabbage and herbs, our strawberry plants are already starting to ripen and the flowers our blooming. The challenge of the perennial garden
The Great Cycle Challenge
This year, during the month of August, I will be riding 300 km for Kid’s Cancer in the Great Cycle Challenge. My son, Sebastian and I are going to do some rides together as he is going to join the ride this year. My husband, Charles joins me on MANY rides when he is not
What makes me happy? Finding a new fabric store…
Today was a fun day! Several weeks ago, my friend told me about a new fabric store called, Stitch located in Buffalo, New York. Stitch Buffalo is a textile art center committed to empowering refugee and immigrant women through the sale of their handcrafted goods, inspiring creativity and inclusion through community education, and stewarding the
A Spoonful of Sugar
With summer around the corner, I have been thinking a lot about what foods I want to enjoy. Summer is as tempting as Christmas in some ways – ice cream, freezies, marshmallows by the campfire, and all the fancy drinks by the pool. This summer, I have committed to avoiding sugar. I do not bake
Have you seen the BEES?
Last week, I had the privilege of accompanying a school trip to a bee farm. This was planned and organized by Charlotte’s nursery school in Grimsby. I always love an adventure with Mason and Charlotte and this one was fun and full of lots of new experiences and learning. The “beekeeper” was focused on helping
May 2024 Book List…
I read 12 books in May. With my goal of 175 books in 2024, I need to read 15 books each month for the next 7 months. So, now, when I start mindlessly scrolling through Facebook or some other form of social media, I remember my goals and move on. Although escaping into a good
Summer Mornings on the Front Porch
What is your morning routine? When the weather is warm, I love to get up early, workout or do yoga or go for a bike ride and then have a cup of coffee on the porch. When I have the opportunity to sit on the front porch with a cup of coffee, I often get
April 2024 Reading List
Reading books is definitely my “superpower”! It has been fun to read a variety of books and then share the highlights on our podcasts under “Books Worth Reading”. Lots of books that I read are “inspirational” or thinking books but, many more are just good stories….so below, I have listed things that make a “successful”
The Walking Vacation
Walking is always recommend as a great way to exercise and stay healthy – especially walking outside. Walking is a safe and easy choice – even if you need to walk slowly or you use a wheelchair or walker, getting outside for a “walk” is great for both your physical and mental health. If you
Celebrate our Humanity….Every.Single.Day.
I recently read a book called, “It’s Not About You” that reinforced how I feel about life – “Life is not about you. It’s about what you do for others. The key to creating collective well-being is to start by improving the life of another person” and it encourages us to “keep focused on the
Easter Blessings
In our family, holidays are always about spending time together as a family – our little family of four – and finding ways to connect and celebrate the people in our circle. I have had people ask me why we do that and the answer is simple – contribution starts when you look beyond yourself
My Reading List: March 2024
10 reasons for keeping track of the books you read….1. Keep track of the books you read and when you read them. If you don’t keep a reading journal, how do you know what books you read and when you read them? 2. Record your thoughts and feelings about the books so you can accurately recommend
Sauerkraut is Good for the Soul…and lots of other benefits…
In a book I recently read called, Just One Thing by Dr. Michael Mosley, he writes about a whole bunch of “just one things” that you can do to improve your physical and mental health. His guiding words are to – make it simple – be realistic – create a trigger that helps you form
My Reading List – February 2024
February definitely went out with a bang – snow and ice – or, due to Leap Year, did March actually come in like a lion? I always set myself reading goals each month – I have now reached 27 of my 175 books for 2024….that leaves 14.8 books per month for the rest of 2024.
January 2024 Reading List
I have committed to reading 150 books in 2024. I managed to read 13 in January – I need to up my game a little if I am going to reach my goal and so I am going to be watching less TV and spending more time reading and knitting or crocheting and listening as
Relationship and Connection
The start of a new year has made me think a lot about what is really important and especially about relationships and boundaries. The relationships that we build need to both challenge and enhance us – they need to make a difference. We seek support, companionship and understanding from others. Relationships work best when they
December 2023 Reads
….and it is a wrap – I read 154 books this year. I have set a new goal for 2024 of 175 books which is about 3-1/2 books per week. As most people know, I read about 3 books a week – usually on Kindle but, always one on audible so that I can listen
November 2023 – Books I Read
I have 7 books left to complete my goal for 2023. I love to read, listen and think and write about the books I read. I like to challenge myself to read books about different perspectives and aspects of history that I don’t understand and know much about. I recently re-read a quote: “In essentials,
Movember 2023
Every year when Movember rolls around, it has deep meaning in our family. Just over a year ago, Charles had life-saving surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton. It was nerve-sparing robotic surgery for prostate cancer. Charles and I both have dealt with cancer in our families for most of our adult lives. Both my
A Homemade Neighbourly Christmas
Do you have friends and neighbours that you want to honour at Christmas? Do you want to give something that is meaningful without breaking the bank? I thought that I would give you some ideas that won’t take you a lot of time but, will bring a smile to the faces of those in your
October 2023 Book List
I have 19 books left to read to reach my 150 book goal for 2023. With travel, I did not read quite as many books but, I did manage to read 10 books this month. Spending a few days on the beach between Spain and Portugal gave me a chance to read, nap and listen
Enjoying a Beautiful Autumn Day…
The weather was beautiful today – 20 degrees – not TOO sunny but, a perfect day for gardening and bike riding. It is so important to take advantage of any nice weather before winter is upon us. It was a busy day – house cleaning, gardening and a bit of quilting. I have been recently
Doors in Spain and Portugal
Our travels through Spain and Portugal were vibrant – the architecture of Lisbon, Porto and Vigo and The Algarve were alive with beautiful colours and the most amazing doors. Below, I have a collection of all the ornate doors we saw as we walked through the cities. We walked 75 km during our trip –
Laundry in Lisbon…
Everywhere you looked people were hanging out their laundry as we walked through the streets of Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and Vigo, Spain. Small washing machines were often in kitchens or bathrooms in the apartments we stayed in but, due to the always beautiful weather, the clothes and towels, etc. were hung outside to dry.